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Akatarawa bridge 2 2, leading to Bridge Road; partial collapse.
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PhotographerTommy Livingston
DescriptionThe Akatarawa bridge's central pier subsided by around a metre into the river bed around 11 a.m. on October 29, 2015, during a flood, cutting off 62 Bridge Road houses. On investigation, it was discovered that the pier was not founded on bedrock, and gravel supporting it had been scoured away.
Brightness and contrast have been increased.
October 30; Power had not been lost; fire hoses had been dragged across the bridge to provide water, without anybody crossing the bridge and TV footage showed a handsaw being dragged across the bridge.
The only access, a track to Totara Park, 20 minutes' walk away, had been cleared for such things as four-wheel farm bikes. It would be widened to a single lane, controlled by traffic lights, and later, it would be sealed. It began operating mid-November; by November 20 a 3-metre-wide track had been sealed and traffic lights were working.
It was estimated that a replacement bridge would take six to nine months.
April 17, 2016; a temporary bridge belonging to Fulton Hogan was craned into place, and would carry sewer, water, gas and telecommunication service while a new bridge was being built. Three tenders for the new bridge had been received.
May 4; demolition of the old bridge would start after the fish spawning season; around September; the new single-lane concrete-deck bridge would open on January 27, 2017, not October 2016.
July 23, 'Dominion Post'; cost would be $3.66m; not the $2.5m estimated earlier.
The August 23, 2016 'Leader' showed Embroidery Guild members presenting the mayor with a 70 x 70 cm collage quilt commemorating the bridge.
February 8, 2017 'Leader'; picture of the first of two 42-metre plate girders being placed; they had been delivered in three pieces and assembled on site; each weighed 32 tonnes. The bridge should open in late February. The replacement opened on May 3, 2017.Date Taken29th October 2015
DescriptionThe Akatarawa bridge's central pier subsided by around a metre into the river bed around 11 a.m. on October 29, 2015, during a flood, cutting off 62 Bridge Road houses. On investigation, it was discovered that the pier was not founded on bedrock, and gravel supporting it had been scoured away.Brightness and contrast have been increased.
October 30; Power had not been lost; fire hoses had been dragged across the bridge to provide water, without anybody crossing the bridge and TV footage showed a handsaw being dragged across the bridge.
The only access, a track to Totara Park, 20 minutes' walk away, had been cleared for such things as four-wheel farm bikes. It would be widened to a single lane, controlled by traffic lights, and later, it would be sealed. It began operating mid-November; by November 20 a 3-metre-wide track had been sealed and traffic lights were working.
It was estimated that a replacement bridge would take six to nine months.
April 17, 2016; a temporary bridge belonging to Fulton Hogan was craned into place, and would carry sewer, water, gas and telecommunication service while a new bridge was being built. Three tenders for the new bridge had been received.
May 4; demolition of the old bridge would start after the fish spawning season; around September; the new single-lane concrete-deck bridge would open on January 27, 2017, not October 2016.
July 23, 'Dominion Post'; cost would be $3.66m; not the $2.5m estimated earlier.
The August 23, 2016 'Leader' showed Embroidery Guild members presenting the mayor with a 70 x 70 cm collage quilt commemorating the bridge.
February 8, 2017 'Leader'; picture of the first of two 42-metre plate girders being placed; they had been delivered in three pieces and assembled on site; each weighed 32 tonnes. The bridge should open in late February. The replacement opened on May 3, 2017.
Date Taken29th October 2015About the original
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Akatarawa bridge 2 2, leading to Bridge Road; partial collapse.. Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 23/08/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24530